Bio-Science at the Crossroads

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1980978,00.html

nice article Gill sahib.

I think we are on the threshold of a biotechnology revolution: in the next 50 years we will be able to, for the first time, choose the characteristics of our offspring by manipulating their DNA via genetic engineering, cloning and nanotechnology.

As for cloning, I think that although we do need ethical committees to debate the specifics it is only a matter of time before someone produces the first human clone--unless it has already happened. If some governments ban it, scientists will just move to somewhere where it isn`t banned. also, after initial uproar, most people will just forget about it and by 2020 it will become just another technique for reproduction for infertile couples or individuals. Just like IVF.
I am deeply interested in this area of science and have considered retraining in it--perhaps in a few years.

The danger will lie in the disparity between the rich and the poor: the rich will have the means to clone themselves and also to produce `designer babies` which could create a class of `supermen` and superwomen with perfect supermodel looks (whatever is considered attractive at that time by society), enhanced intelligence, and disease-free.

of course, by the end of the century we will all be able to redesign our bodies and complament our natural intelligences by interfacing with computers and through the virtual realities which will become commonplace, replace old and aging body-parts and so on.

Will we even be able to lengthen human life-spans? That is the holy grail of biological science research and I think the answer will be `yes`.

Books to read which I recommend:

Visions by Machio Kuko (?)
Engines of Creation - Eric Drexler

Re: # 32 Naqshbandi

``Will we even be able to lengthen human life-spans? That is the holy grail of biological science research and I think the answer will be `yes`.``

The more important question is `to what extent` longevity is desirable, and at what political socio-economic cost? How will it impact the currently growing disparities between communities within communities and so forth.

Having said that, `longevity` by default means avoidance/postponement of death. The closest way of achieving that is to live in a bubble, cut off from the world of accidents that come unannounced. But that`s not a healthy way of living, if it can be considered living...or is it?

I hope the scientists can utilize their intelligence properly, although the trend suggests otherwise, and that`s already promising to be a waste of resources in every sense of the word.

Naqshbandi bhai, Allah ko mantay ho, to Allah ki baaton pe kaan bhi dharo zara. Zindagi aur maut sirf Us k ikhtiar mein hai. The best you can do is to improve the quality of life for as many as possible via cloning, longevity, or what have you; for a majority of human race today considers longevity a curse. Otherwise, your desires and efforts will be in vain.

:-)~~

#28, hmm...interesting indeed. Consider the possibility that the lack of faith is THE reason for a population without tensions?

Re: # 30 parthaab

``hmm...interesting indeed. Consider the possibility that the lack of faith is THE reason for a population without tensions?``

yeah, let`s....do you think USSR could have been a prime example of such a possibility?

Better yet, let`s FF to today...do you think USA, UK, China, or any other territorial population qualify or at least promise to be a tension free community?

You`re welcome to hazard a guess, but you`d produce a reasonable answer if you first studied/thought about the origins and need for `faith`.

:-)~~

#25
Against their will? Talk about a restive region in body politics!

things are looking up for the believers

maulana masadi,

......... now you can stop praying, your wishes have come true !

Kuwait court jails two women for raping man

KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti court has sentenced two women to seven years in jail each for kidnapping a man and forcing him to have sex with them, a local daily reported on Sunday. The two women were convicted of raping the man by forcing him to have sex against his will, Al-Rai newspaper said, without providing their names or that of their victim. They were also found guilty of beating the man, who filed a medical report to the court. The daily said that a lower court had initially sentenced the two women to 15 years in jail each, but the appeals court on Saturday reduced the sentence to seven years. The two women denied the charges. afp

.......... sorry gill sahib, i just had to post this good news somewhere !

Re: # 25 hamidm

hamid, I think you should update your resume with `digging up genitalia related news on the internet` as your forte.

LOL....

Things never looked down for the believers. Otherwise you`d not have as large a population of the believers as you do today. Time for you to think beyond alkhamru-walmeisiru

line pe aja chacha....lol

:-)~~

Re: # 25


Mian hamidm,

Masadi don`t need no help. He has been peddling ``leggy blondes`` on the Imran Khan board.

Regards.

Thought provoking article Mr. Gill. I have always been interested in genetic science/engineering. It`s a fascinating area of research even though it is fraught with controversies.

I don`t think that by simply banning the research on human cloning we would be able to maintain the sanctity of human life for long. Sooner or later we would hear of some genetic scientist and his team of doctors who have been doing the forbidden research in some secret underground russian laboratory, and that would herald a new beginning in human cloning research. A new generation of rogue genetics experts would spawn across the world, and they would somehow manage to do their own research and try to create human beings. That`s just one of the many possible ill outcomes!

There is no limit to man`s knowledge, and he will learn what he wants to learn. By putting a ban on cloning has only increased his curiosity, and he would continually strive to learn more and more about it. If it weren`t for the moral constraints being placed by various religions, man would have had crossed all boundaries and created thousands of clones already. It seems that religion isn`t that bad afterall, and it does help when the small bugs in man`s enlightened nature make things get a bit out of hand.

The Quran holds authority for Muslims, the post was addressed to those among them who are uncertain regarding the subject, and it was also addressed to the mockers who think that the Quran is incapable of handling such ``modern`` topics. A-holes like you though will never learn, it burns you that scientists in this case, in their ethics agree wholehartedly with the Quran.

Regarding the stock market, here is your quote from the Quran (5:90)

Re: # 21

mullah masadi.

...... do you mind translating gabriel`s gibberish into a english ? .......... when it comes to the stock market i am a superstitious man and will take advice from any quarter - even if the source is as dubious as some bedouin deity named al-lah ...........

mullah masadi,

.... can you please consult the koran and tell me what the stock market is going to do next week ............. and while you are at it, why don`t you find out what date eid is going to fall on this year and also, if you don`t mind, the exact location of the g-spot .............

... thanks for your help ........

Regardless of the illiteracy of the bigots among the so-called freethinkers (no different to the Mullahs in my view), #18 is a prime example, the Qur`an differentiates between the human being and the embryo, describing what emerges at the end of the 8th week, i.e. after formation of bones and muscles as a ``different`` or a new creation (see 23:14). Therefore there is nothing wrong in ``manufacturing`` (the scientists are not creating anything just putting together components) embryos for research or in abortion before the 8th week, Islamically speaking, and my authority is the Quran`s words, even though the mullahs might disagree- what exists before the 8th week is not human.





I am perfectly capable of understanding simple language, so to the mullahs don`t try to argue simple statements to absurdity using all kinds of nonsense, I am in no mood for that kind of argumentation, and for bigots like hamid, shove dawkins where the light don`t shine.

Respectfully submitted,

The world is nt all senseless! Some good news!!



http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,1978045,00.html

Re: # 17 parthaab

Another vicitm of sensationalist propaganda.

Of course you`re going to have 82% say faith causes tension in country where two thirds are not religious.

Sad indeed.

:-)~~